After weeks of ‘shock’, the PP changes its strategy. Talking to Junts, they say in Genoa, can serve to show that they will not swallow “with what Sánchez is willing. And if the demands rise to a level that is not acceptable for the PSOE, “the electoral repetition will be closer”
Alberto Núñez Feijóo has a month ahead of him until he reaches the investiture debate. The leader of the PP knows that he does not have sufficient numbers and the hope that something can change in these weeks is minimal. But in Genoa they are determined to play their cards and the opportunity to have the King’s commission to try it is one of them. Feijóo intends to meet face to face with Pedro Sánchez. This will be followed by contacts with all the regional presidents and a round with the parliamentary groups with the exception of EH Bildu, who will be in charge of other leaders.
In Genoa they understand that what the abertzale group represents “has nothing to do& rdquor; with the rest of the parties, including that of Carles Puigdemont. The fact of including Junts among the formations with which the PP will speak has caused an internal stir. The leader of the Catalan PP, Alejandro Fernández, has expressed it publicly. But leaders from other territories also recognize that a lot of pedagogy is needed. However, in the environment of Feijóo there is the conviction than to meet with Junts “It complicates things for Sánchez& rdquor; and will increase the price of a future agreement between the independentistas and the PSOE.
“What certainly does not put you in trouble is to sit idly by,” they reflect at the PP headquarters. There are different arguments. The national leadership insists that the veto of Bildu “cannot be the same & rdquor; to that of Junts, no matter how much its main leaders have been convicted of very serious crimes and their leader is a fugitive from Justice, “as we will continue to repeat & rdquor ;, they clarify. “For PP Bildu it is not comparable with any other political actor& rdquor;they reiterate in the dome.
The other argument is part of a strategy that until now the PP had not explored. and goes through move nerves to the socialist roof, which has based its message on the fact that Feijóo was completely isolated and had nothing to do. In Genoa they recognize that the talks with Junts have many limitations because “they will not offer anything & rdquor; of what they ask for in their road map towards secession and the end of the judicialization of the process.
But display that ‘no’ to an amnesty for which the PSOE could already be looking for legal reserve is essential. “It helps us to be able to say that Sánchez is going to swallow something that we will never do. Say no directly to Junts and for all of Spain to see that Sánchez says yes to them,” they settle.
And along the way, they say in Feijóo’s closest team, other things could happen. For example, that Junts raise its demands a lot with the PSOE as a result of being able to sit down with the PP. “It is not the same to have the only letter from Sánchez because with the PP you don’t even sit down, than to open the fan even for staging & rdquor ;, they explain in Genoa. Above all, because the acting president is not sure that he will have that support today. That the Canarian Coalition remains on the side of Feijóo forces Sánchez to have in himself the deputies of Puigdemont.
If the price becomes so expensive that the PSOE “cannot swallow” with certain demands, they think of the PP, the electoral repetition would be closer. And if, finally, there is an agreement between the two parties, “the next electoral campaign will begin in the eyes of the entire country,” they explain.
It escapes no one that it is a risky move that although it has had little public internal criticism (barely a tweet from Alejandro Fernández and his number two), it provokes many reluctance in intermediate frames. Even in the electorate that could be disoriented. But in Feijóo’s team they insist that the scenario left by 23J is “very complex & rdquor; and “it’s time to adapt & rdquor; to the current scenario. “Either PNV or Junts, there is no other way to thwart an investiture by Sánchez& rdquor ;.
Why Feijóo assumes the risk
In this context, and knowing that the PP leader’s options are practically nil, the popular ones now go to the field of play of complicate the way for the socialist. Junts must decide if he agrees to meet with the conservatives. Meanwhile, Feijóo also wanted to disconcert the PSOE itself by asking for a meeting “at the highest level & rdquor; with Sanchez.
That the conservative leader insisted on not having a quick investiture (it could have been held this week) surprised within the party itself because many leaders they believed that the priority was to activate the clock towards the electoral repetition “as soon as possible”. And yet, the national leadership has opted for a less conservative path, assuming the risk of time and the round of contacts, but also opening up to the fact that “many things can happen.”
All these movements were discussed by Feijóo himself with the regional presidents in Galicia this weekend, where he summoned the senior staff of the party to start the new course. After his speech on Sunday he had lunch with all of them, Mariano Rajoy and other leaders such as the general secretary, Cuca Gamarra. The day before, Feijóo shared a dinner with the barons who had already arrived. He got full support under the premise that “you have to put pressure on Sánchez& rdquor ;, some of those present say, “put stones in the way & rdquor; and recover the initiative that the PP had lost.
After a few weeks of ‘shock’ and the discomfort generated by the negotiation of the Congress Table, which Feijóo and people of his strict confidence led directly without counting on other positions at the top, the PP leader has shared his new strategy, trying to explain movements that a priori not everyone understood.